Welcome to our July 2026 newsletter…full of opportunities to enjoy some great Safaris in Sydney across many different cuisines and a rundown on the the latest Overseas Safaris bursting with the sun-drenched flavors of the Mediterranean!

I have just unpacked my bags, yet my heart, soul, and taste buds are still wandering through the ancient, cobblestoned alleyways of Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, Malta and Gozo. Its such a privilege to be able to lead food loving Australians through some favourite parts of the world and introduce them to friends across these islands.

Next week we celebrate 28 years in business and realise how fortunate we’ve been to create food adventures across Australia and the world for all these years. We appreciate your support and look forward to celebrating 30 years with a big event. And of course – huge thanks to our manager Suzy Brien who makes it all happen behind the scenes, checking and rechecking and connecting with all our hosts.

But in the meantime…let’s talk winter and some wonderful ways to get out and explore different parts of Sydney across many cuisines.

Sydney Safaris

We’ve got a couple of spaces available on our Middle Eastern Tour this Saturday 25th July…this is such a brilliant day starting with our friends behind the scenes at Sydney’s top Lebanese bakery where fresh fragrant Lebanese bread cooks in just 8 seconds and blows up like a balloon…we taste that fresh warm bread with za’atar spice mixed with olive oil. And enjoy a morning coffee spiced with cardamom…and that’s just the start.

This safari immerses in a number of family-owned businesses who are all passionate about their ingredients and keen to have you taste everything from Turkish sesame-studded simit to falafel to a lunch of many courses finishing with Turkish ice cream. Click here to book

Spice Trails Safari

This is such a journey into taste across 5 cuisines and includes a demonstration cooking class with legendary chef Kumar Mahadevan. Nothing else in the food arena is such a celebration of multicultural Australia…we journey through Persian flavours and ingredients, into Turkish, Lebanese, Indian and Sri Lankan. Its a magic carpet of a day out. And Kumar’s recipe for chicken curry and dhal makhan- is something you’ll want to make again and again. Find a food loving friend or come by yourself on Saturday 1st August. Click here to book

Eastwood Walking Safari

This is the place that’s about to boom as a new centre of Asian food from interesting parts of the Chinese-speaking world – have you heard of Shunde? Have you tried a traditional Hong Kong breakfast? What about enjoyed Hangzhou-style grilled meat pies – north eastern Chinese comfort food?

Come and join local food expert Lucy Leonardi and me on this vibrant exploration for small groups…its vibrant, delicious, full of great things to taste and learn and fun.

We have one or two spaces on Saturday 8th August. Click here to book

French Safari

We love the feedback from our French safari – this from a recent visitor.

Dear Maeve & Suzy,

Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the Safari last Saturday and how impressed we were with our guide, Alex.  He was informative, funny and extremely knowledgable.  

Absolutely loved Ocello Cheeses and purchased some yummy products.  Gourmet Life was a complete eye opener as I didn’t know it existed.  He was terrific as were the tastings and our purchases.

Many thanks, yet again, for a wonderful Safari.

A whole exquisite world of flavour right on our doorstep with passionate prodivores and bakers, restaurateurs and affineur…ooh la la…it’s a fabulous day out including a 3 course lunch with wine… Saturday 8th August. Click here to book.

Afghan Safari in Merrylands and a family home

I can’t tell you how much I look forward to leading this safari…we start in Merrylands in an Afghan bakery that cooks the delicious sesame sprinkled bread in the ancient tanur ovens; then to coffee and sweets and a hosted visit to a spice merchant including saffron, beloved green cardamon, marinades and special teas, then a taste of the famous Afghan dumplings ashak, a butcher shop full of great finds for the bbq and slow cooking…and then to the home of the Hashimi family where we enjoy a cooking class and sumptuous lunch. The generosity of Tamim and Nabila and son Abdullah really make this day…it’s like being an episode of Food Safari and completely delicious. Come and join us on Saturday 15th August. Click here to book.

Click here to see all our Sydney Safaris.

Overseas Safaris

What a colossal safari this is…full of luxurious experiences and accommodation as well as rustic experiences in farmhouses and with families…plus a couple of days on boats on some of the most incredible coastline in the world.

There is an untamed, rugged beauty to Sardinia that steals your heart immediately. We manage to bypass the usual tourist hubs to connect with the island’s true soul—its proud, incredibly welcoming producers. We have time on a farm where the sheep are milked every day and a father and son make cheese in front of us. We also have our lovely friend Paola Abraimi who recently appeared in the New York Times for her skills in making the rare pasta fillindeu – stretching 256 strands – thats later dried in the sun and used in a broth. One guest nominated this simple dish as one of the great dishes of her life.

Like all our safaris, each day is different and full of money-can’t-buy experiences…the accommodation across the two islands is superb…including staying at my friend Giovanna’s unique art experience hotel in what’s been called Sardinia’s Dolomites – huge sculptural limestone standing above lush valleys full of grapes…and yet just 30 minutes from the turquoise coast where we spend a day swimming and enjoying time in nature.

Over the years we’ve built some great relationships with local artists including the last basket weaver on the west coast our friend Marie Antoinetta who gathers the asphodel with her husband, carefully dries it and weaves it into the most glorious trays and baskets…plus Sardinia’s greatest living artist Pina Monne who is a muralist depicting scenes of rural life on the walls of her village, plus a ceramicist and painter. This year she showed us the sculpture park she’s creating that looks out to the west and the island’s best sunsets.

Across the water in Corsica we journey into Bonifacio and a French speaking world and history woven around Napoleon Bonaparte…a story shared by our long-term guide Pierre who also curates a visit to the local market for charcuterie and clementine liqueur. From the crisp vermentos and soft red wine varieties of Sardinia, we move to delightful French style rose to accompany local delicacies like eggplant Bonifacienne, mussels, melon and cured Corsican Jamon from their prized black footed pigs.

Our dates for 2027 are 30 May – 11 June. 

We are taking expressions of interest for this tour, so if you are interested please reply to this email with your name, number of guests and a contact number. We’ll be in touch once the details have been finalised.

Sicily & Malta

“From the slopes of Mt Etna to the clear waters of Gozo; the Michelin tables of Malta to the family farm of Tony Sammut and stylish absolute waterfront feasts of Marzamemi on Sicily’s east coast, this safari delivers.

This safari opened doors and took us places we’d never have found on our own – giving genuine insight into local culture. The best tours in the world.” Marg S

“I think meeting the ‘locals’ – guides, producers, hosts made the travel feel more intimate, thanks to your excellent choice of events and venues. I can’t choose a favourite moment as they were all great. And I learnt a lot about the lives of the people here, their history, their passions, their daily life thanks to our wonderful guides.

The food experiences were very special, always with a surprise enhancement from the owners, including the local band! The swims were a lovely relaxation and in gorgeous spots. An all round fabulous holiday” Jenny T

“A fabulous trip with many varied experiences we were unlikely to find without Maeve’s ability to connect with  such passionate locals. Their commitment and enthusiasm for what they produce with pride lingers. Some of it is a blur but the memories are vivid of the colours of the markets especially red tomatoes of different shapes, the incredible blues of the seas, the glistening white of the sea salt and yellows and citrus  shades of the limoncellos and fingers (and some tops) stained with ripe mulberries ! Thank you Maeve and Gourmet Safaris – Ali S

“To say it was wonderful is really an understatement, it was so much more than I ever imagined. Thank you from the bottom of my heart” Chris M

“ This trip has been absolutely amazing and above my expectations. All our guides have been outstanding and know their countries with an added sense of personal love for each place they have shown us! The best!!”

“Maeve’s planning and passion gave us behind the scenes access to hidden food gems – an absolute dream trip” Carol H

The dates for the 2027 tour are to be confirmed. We are taking expressions of interest for this tour, so if you are interested please reply to this email with your name, number of guests and a contact number. We’ll be in touch once the details have been finalised.

More to come

New Zealand in February/March and South Australia in March. Let us know if you would like more information and we’ll add you to the EOI list

Enjoy this lovely winter weather and we hope you can join us on a safari soon.

Maeve & Suzy